Kelsey Plum comes off bench to spark Aces past Washington

Reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson campaigned for 1 of her Aces teammates to triumph an grant aft a 93-83 triumph implicit the Washington Mystics connected Tuesday nighttime astatine Michelob Ultra Arena.

“KP for Sixth Woman of the Year,” said Wilson, referring to Kelsey Plum. “She’s playing astatine an all-time precocious close now. I’m loving to spot however she’s conscionable getting what she wants. … We spot the other work. A batch of radical don’t spot that, but it’s coming to light. She’s 1 of the hardest-working radical I know.”

Plum scored 24 points connected 8-of-13 shooting, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range. She scored 21 during a 2nd fractional successful which the Aces outscored the Mystics 52-34.

Business arsenic accustomed for the 26-year-old guard, who is playing the champion hoops of her vocation a twelvemonth aft tearing her Achilles tendon.

“I’m conscionable trying to clasp my role,” said Plum, who is averaging a career-high 13.8 points portion converting 39.4 percent of her 3-point attempts. “I don’t deliberation you play for Sixth (Woman of the Year), but I deliberation for maine being a competitor, I’m decidedly trying to amusement that I’m bully astatine basketball. … If everything goes the mode it goes and I conscionable bash my thing, it’ll each enactment retired successful the end.”

Plum’s play successful the second-half helped the Aces (17-6) flooded yet different halftime shortage against the Mystics (8-12). In Sunday’s crippled against Washington, Las Vegas was retired of sync defensively portion covering the Mystics’ pick-and-roll sets.

But that wasn’t the contented Tuesday. Turnovers were.

The Aces committed 11 turnovers successful the archetypal half, mostly of the unforced variety. The Mystics attempted 12 much tract goals, and their star, Tina Charles, scored 23 of her 30 points.

But Las Vegas rectified that contented successful the 2nd fractional and relied connected its superior endowment to overpower a smaller Washington squad.

Plum attacked successful modulation and either probed the overgarment for scores oregon swung the shot to support the violative flow. Wilson and Liz Cambage feasted astir the rim for casual baskets.

The Aces committed lone 3 turnovers successful the 2nd half, and Plum deed a 3-pointer from the close helping successful the last infinitesimal to guarantee Las Vegas would expanse the bid with Washington.

“There’s nary question she’s the starring campaigner for Sixth Woman of the Year — by far,” Aces manager Bill Laimbeer said. “She has games similar this wherever she keeps america successful the crippled and carries us. … She’s doing what she’s expected to do.”

Wilson finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks, and Cambage scored 15.

Contact newsman Sam Gordon astatine sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon connected Twitter.